GALILEO VS URBAN

Galileo's belief in the Copernican System eventually got him into trouble with the Catholic Church. The Inquisition was a permanent institution and charged with the eradication of heresies.

His book The Dialog was not the first to suggest the Earth revolves around the sun, Copernicus' view had been published in 1543. A committee of consultants declared to the Inquisition that the Copernican proposition that the Sun is the center of the universe was a heresy (sort of). The church realized the danger of such teachings and issued a injunction to teaching his theory. In 1624 Galileo is at his height of fame as a mathematician and writer under the patronage of the Medici family. A new pope, Urban is in office and is open to new ideas, seeking to advance church teachings in the sciences. Urban would consult personally with Galileo frequently. Galileo complains to Urban that the catholic Church's edict against Copernicus is holding back scientific advancement. A credibility gap is building between Italy and the rest of Europe. Rome will be left behind. Urban agrees.

Galileo suggests being allowed to write a book on the subject, sharing his insights gained from observations with his recent invention, the telescope. He suggests to Urban that Copernicus may have been right. Urban gets upset, not with the theory per se, but that Galileo is claiming proof, which denies the faith and church teachings. Urban lectures and warns him "There can be no ultimate proof of God's design". He suggests that Galileo could write about it as long as it is hypothetical and offers no suggestion of proof.

Urban gives his blessing and even suggests the book be about the two chief systems of the world. Galileo hears the blessing but misses the veiled warning. His solution is genius, he devises his book around a dialogue between three characters. One supporting the church view, one the Copernican view, the other weighs each equally. But he can't deny the evidence and the book which takes seven years to write is heavily biased towards the Copernican.

In 1632 Urban is in a tight spot. The protestant reformation is encroaching on Catholic dominance. One cardinal, Borgia even suggests that Urban is a failure by not enforcing the church doctrine strongly enough and should be impeached! Meanwhile the book is eventually printed in Florence, far from Rome. He was supposed to provide a copy to Rome before printing but the plague is raging and nothing has been sent anywhere by anyone for a long time. His is given a rubber stamp approval by the local inquisition. The most explosive book in 500 years is about to hit the streets. The book sells out in 5 days. When it finally reaches Rome, there is outrage amongst his advisers, the character that supports the church is named Simplicio and made to look foolish and is obviously modeled after Urban himself. Urban's blood boils! Urban is trying desperately to improve his image and can't be seen as supporting heretical texts. Urban demands the book and its author be held for trial on heresy.

This is where it gets good. Medici sends his top lawyer to Rome to try to get Urban to reconsider and drop the charges. But Urban has been humiliated and wants blood. Urban blames Galileo's problems on Galileo, lambasting the lawyer and asking why would Galileo write about the one subject guaranteed to land him in jail, the one subject he personally warned him about and the one subject that would "stir things up for me!" The lawyer points out that Galileo did get the approval of the inquisition. Urban doesn't care. Now it's personal.

Urban insists Galileo will be tried for heresy. Only one problem. The edict against Copernicus has a major loophole as it doesn't actually contain the word heretical. It almost lets Galileo off the hook. Urban is blinded by revenge, Galileo will be tried for heresy, for something that technically isn't heretical. Politics! This of course being before the papacy declared itself infallible.

Day one of the trial and they have a big problem. As the book is not technically heretical they can't convict him of heresy. It concludes with orders that the book be reexamined. The court is in recess. The prosecutor tries to convince Galileo to give up the fight. Galileo seems to accept his fate.

Day two finds Galileo fighting back. He admits his error. He suggests he accidentally appeared to support Copernicus by being too clever in his arguments. Not that he personally supports Copernicus. He was only guilty of showing off. It's not the confession the court needs. The court is again dismissed with the church at a loss on how to proceed.

Day three and Galileo launches a surprise tactic. He produces the injunction given him 16 years ago that ordered him not to support Copernicus. He points out that is does not contain the phrase "nor teach in any way whatsoever". He says he took that as permission to discuss the idea hypothetically (of course). He feels he has won, but only manages to put the church in a corner. Urban wants the trial over. Galileo is to confess and retract by whatever means, including torture. "We should not be squeamish in such important matters!"

Day four and the churches intentions are clear. Galileo knows the horrors that await if he refuses. So he 'confesses': "I was once undecided but now...persuaded by the wisdom of the authorities...I hold as most true and indisputable, the stability of the earth and the motion of the sun."

The church has won. Galileo is sentenced to be held indefinitely, as the pleasure of the holy office sees fit.

Yet the earth still turns, he knew it, and they knew it.

It would take 359 years for the church under John Paul II to formally rehabilitate Galileo and admit their error.